Planning a vacation to Europe: European vacation itinerary for 2 weeks

Planning a trip to Europe and don’t know where to start? We’ve got the answers to your questions and have mapped out two fantastic European vacation plans for you to explore.

Tips for visiting Europe

1. Cheap flights to Europe

Aer Lingus offers cheap flights to Europe from the USA with a short stopover in Ireland. You can choose to stay in Ireland for a few days and you’ll avail of preclearance at Dublin Airport completing customs before you fly back to the US.

2. When to visit Europe?

As with most destinations, Europe will be busier with tourists during the summer months and again in December when Christmas markets take place. Winter will also be a busy time for European ski destinations. Consider whether you’d prefer fewer crowds and if a warm or cool temperature would suit you best, and go from there. If you’re visiting during the off-season make sure that the sights you plan to visit are open.

3. What to pack for Europe?

This will depend on the time of your visit. Most of Europe experiences warm summers and colder winters. Bring clothing that can be layered and pack for any activities that you have planned such as hiking, swimming etc. Europe is quite relaxed when it comes to clothing, so feel free to dress casually most of the time. It’s worth noting, to visit some European churches or places of worship, men and women must cover their knees and shoulders so include something suitable. Finally, pack at least one dressy outfit in case you visit a fancy restaurant – of which there are many!

 

European vacation from USA to Italy: Visit Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples & Dublin

Italy is the perfect European holiday destinations for so many reasons – the most popular one being the food. Homemade pasta, pizza and gelato can be found in abundance in traditional, family-run eateries along with other gorgeous local dishes. Shopping in Italy is fantastic. The country is home to so many luxury brands including Valentino, Versace, Gucci and Prada. Italy is also known for its fine leather goods and shoes, as well as men’s suits. Architecture, art, history and culture feature heavily in Italy – every town is as beautiful as the last.

Day 1: Fly USA to Venice 

Start your trip the right way: with a warm Irish welcome from Aer Lingus. Get a great deal on your flights from the USA to Venice with a short stopover in Dublin and enjoy extra legroom, superior inflight entertainment, free Wi-Fi and four-star service.

Things to do in Venice

1. Take a cruise along the Grand Canal. Sail under the Rialto bridge and out towards the smaller islands of Venice and learn about Venice in the past and present from your guide. Take in the views and see where the house of Prada sits and the hotel where George Clooney was married.
2. Explore St Mark’s Square and see the beautiful St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr, the Campanile (the Basilica’s bell tower) and the Torre dell’ Orologio. Pre-book your tickets if you wish to visit the inside of these buildings to avoid long waiting times.
3. Enjoy an alfresco dinner overlooking the sunset at Terrazza Danieli. Dine on delicious Venetian recipes that date back to 1909 while soaking up the views of the Grand Canal, Punta della Dogana, Giudecca and San Giorgio Maggiore.

Get off the beaten track in Venice and discover where you can watch glass being blown or take in the city from a viewpoint away from the crowds.

Day 3: Venice to Florence 

Travel directly from Venice to Florence by train in approximately 2.5 hours and prepare yourself for the spectacular city of Florence.

Things to do in Florence

1. Visit Italy’s most popular gallery The Uffizi and marvel at the collection of Renaissance artworks including Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’. Give yourself up to three hours to see all the gallery has to offer.
2. Explore two floors of foodie heaven at the Mercato Centrale. Here you’ll find vendors selling wine, fruit, meat, fish, cheese, oil and spices on the ground level, and a food court with a multitude of eating options on the second floor. This 19th-century market is frequented by locals as much as tourists.
3. Visit the beautiful Boboli Gardens that are considered to be the open-air museum of Florence with centuries-old oak trees, sculptures, fountains, shelters and, of course, flowers.

Day 6: Florence to Rome

Travel from Florence to Italy’s capital city of Rome via train in 1.5 hours.

Things to do in Rome: 

1. Visit the Vatican City and marvel at the sight of it all. Pre-book your tickets and be prepared to spend some time queueing. The Sistine Chapel is a must-see.
2. Take a cookery course and learn to make traditional Italian meals from scratch – even the pasta.
3. Venture back to ancient times with a visit to the Colosseum, Pantheon and Roman Forum. Book a guided tour to hear what happened at these sites and to reduce time spent queuing to get in.

If you want to make your friends jealous, we’ve found some of the most instagrammable spots in Rome for you to share.

Day 9: Rome to Naples 

Hop on a train from Rome to Naples with a journey time of 1.5 hours.

Things to do in Naples:

1. Eat the best pizza you’ll ever taste at Via dei Tribunali – also known as “Pizza Alley”. Delicious pizza can be found at any eatery on this street. Make sure to order a side of arancini – little fried rice balls.
2. Walk the preserved, ancient streets of Pompei to catch a glimpse of life in 79 AD when the town was buried by a volcanic explosion from Mount Vesuvius.
3. Visit the colourful island of Procida in the Bay of Naples. One of three islands, Procida is less known to tourists and was the location used for the film ‘The Fantastic Mr Ripley”. Tour the island’s ancient sites and then relax with a cocktail in the quaint fishing village of Corricella.

Day 12: Naples to USA via Dublin

Take advantage of your stopover by spending a few days in the charming city of Dublin. Discover how Guinness is made at the Guinness Storehouse, see traditional live music in an Irish pub at Temple Bar and shop ‘til you drop at many tax-free locations along the Grafton Quarter before heading back to Dublin Airport. At the airport, American citizens can make use of US customs preclearance and complete the immigration process before travelling home.

 

European Vacation from USA to France. Visit Paris, Lyon, Nice, Toulouse & Dublin.

Considered to be one of the most beautiful places on earth, France is filled with romance and nature and features a warm, relaxing atmosphere that can’t be found anywhere else. Even in the busy city of Paris, locals pause for espressos at local cafes and lunch dates can last for hours with exciting conversations. The French cuisine varies as you travel the country, enjoy rich creamy dishes in the mountains and sample delicate delights in the capital. Shopping is a must in France, the country is home to Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Lacroix.

Day 1: USA to Paris 

Fly to France via Dublin in style with Aer Lingus’ four-star service. With extra legroom, impressive inflight entertainment, free Wi-Fi, a friendly Irish welcome, and great deals on flights to Europe, you’ll be glad you travelled with Aer Lingus.

Things to do in Paris: 

1. Go shopping along the Champs-Elysees. Visit designer and high-street stores such as Chanel and H&M and walk to the end of the road where you’ll meet the famous Arc de Triomphe. Pick up some macarons at Laduree for a little shopping snack.
2. Visit the Eiffel Tower at night. Witness the beautiful lights sparkle on the monument and have a little nighttime picnic below with wine, olives and French cheese.
3. Take a day trip to the marvellous Palace of Versailles, the location that features so much in France’s story of revolution. Book a guided tour for the full effect and to skip the queues.

Day 3: Paris to Lyon

Board a train from Paris to arrive in the 2,000-year-old city of Lyon in approximately 2 hours.

Things to do in Lyon

1. Visit Lyon’s magnificent urban park: Parc de la Tête d’Or. One of the largest parks in the country, Parc de la Tête d’Or is home to a zoo, a lake with pedal boats and the famous botanic gardens. The international rose garden is not to be missed.
2. Step back in time with a visit to Lyon Cathedral – home to an astronomical clock and original stained-glass windows installed in the 1300s. The cathedral is breath-taking and a great example of Gothic architecture.
3. See hundreds of miniature, detailed displays of French life through the ages along with cinema props, artefacts and models from the last 50 years of film at the Museum of Cinema Miniature. The miniature scenes have been painstakingly crafted by the best miniature artists in the world and will amaze you with the level of detail.

Day 6: Lyon to Nice

You can travel from Lyon to Nice – the capital of the French Riviera – by train in around 5 to 6 hours while witnessing some beautiful scenery on the way.

Things to do in Nice:

1. Hit the beach. Though Nice’s beaches are more stony than sandy, you will find private lounging areas along the beach with comfortable sunbeds and fully stocked bars serving ice-cold drinks.
2. Take a day tour to Eze, Monaco, and Monte-Carlo. See Ferraris cruise down the streets, try your luck at the casino and visit the Princess Grace exhibition in Monaco for a real treat.
3. Visit the Beer District. The Beer District is one of Nice’s hippest new spots that rotates 16 draught microbrews and over 50 bottled beers from across the globe in a chilled, friendly atmosphere.

Nice to Toulouse 

It will take around 7.5 hours to travel from Nice to Toulouse by train. Toulouse is known as “la Ville Rose” because so many of the city’s great buildings were made with a pinkish brick, giving the city a rose-tinted look that you won’t find anywhere else.

Things to do in Toulouse: 

1. Unwind at the Japanese Gardens. Inspired by the gardens of Kyoto from between the 14th and 16th centuries, the garden features many meditation symbols and areas as well as a pond filled with majestic koi fish and turtles.
2. Attend a rugby match. Stade Toulousain rugby club contributes more members to France’s national team than any other club in the country. If you happen to be visiting while a match is taking place, grab yourself a ticket. Get lost in Space at the Cité de l’Espace Discovery Centre. Here you can learn about space and the cosmos through IMAX films and exhibitions, life-size replica of the European Ariane 5 rocket and step inside the actual Mir space station which orbited the earth from 1986 to 2001

Day 12: Toulouse to Paris

After a few days in Toulouse, it’s time to make your way back to Paris by train. This journey usually takes around 5 hours. From Paris, you can get a cheaper flight back to the USA via Ireland with Aer Lingus. Why not spend a few days in the land of a thousand welcomes before heading home?

Day 13: Paris to Dublin

It takes little more than an hour to fly from Paris to Dublin. From Ireland’s capital city you can take day trips to the many natural wonders such as the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare or discover if you have Irish ancestry links at EPIC Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin City Centre. A visit to Ireland’s highest pub comes highly recommended. Johnny Fox’s sits upon the Dublin Mountains and hosts “Hooley” party nights with Irish music, dancing and dinner.

Day 15: Dublin to USA 

Aer Lingus flies to 14 locations in North America and American citizens can avail of Dublin Airport’s US customs preclearance facility for a stress-free, smooth journey completing customs before you arrive. There is also a dedicated lounge for passengers travelling to the US who fancy the VIP treatment.

Europe is waiting to be discovered and Aer Lingus is ready to take you there. Get the best flight deals to Europe at aerlingus.com and discover more European destinations to visit.